op whiting



Jan. 29, 1929. I 1,700,362

' H. v. ATWELL PREVENTION OF EVAPORATION LOSSES Filed April 1. 192'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7%;- jfam? T a Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,362

H. V. ATWELL PREVENTION OF EVAPORATION LOSSES Filed April 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,iiZ C; 9. 3.

Patented Jan. 29, 1929'.

UNITED 1,700,362 "PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD V. ATWELL, OF WRITING, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL COMPANY, OF WRITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

PREVENTION OF EVAPORATION LOSSES.

Application filed April 1,-

T his invention relates to the prevention of evaporation losses of volatile liquids and particylarly hydrocarbons or mineral OllS containing volatile fractions.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description in conjun ction 1 with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a systemof tanks and vapor saving apparatus according to the inventiony' Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a control valve; l

. Fig. 3 is a horizontal scctionon the line 33- of Fig. 2; and

. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line tl of Fig. 2.

,Referring to the accompanying drawings, 5 are tanks such as tanks for gasoline, crude oil or other liquid hating volatile constituents which readily vaporize so that a substantial quantity of valuable vapors are expelled from the tank during filling and to a lesser degree when the va or space is heated by the sun or the heat of t 1e day. From the vapor space of each tank 5, pipes 6 lead to valves 7 which communicate through pipes 8 with a manifold 9. The manifold 9 terminates in the suction side of a pump 10. The outlet of pump 10 communicates to pipe 11 which leads to a gas-holder .12 of conventional or other suitable form. The pump 10 is eonttolled so as to keep the manifold 9 under a slight vacuum.

The valve 7 comprises a chamber 13 into which the pipe 6 communicates. In the upper portion of this chamber is a vertical passage 14 surrounded by a channel 15, adapted to contain sealing liquid. Arranged over the opening 14 is an inverted cup 16, thef'sidcs or skirt of which extend downwardly into the channel 15 so as to form a seal with the liquid therein to prevent escape of vapors through the passage 14. Above the cup 16 is arranged a cover 17, which is open to the atmosphere through perforations 18 so that atmospheric pressure acts on the upper side of the inverted cup 16. Sufficient clearance is left above the inverted cup so that it may act as a piston, moving under excess pressure on either side.

The pipe 8 terminates in a horizontal mouth 19 at an intermediate level of the chamber 13 and said mouth is surrounded by a channel 20 adapted to contain sealing liq- 1927. Serial No. 180,321.

uid. Over the mouth 19 of the pipe 8 is mounted a valve 21. This valve is preferably adapted to be moved to its open and closed position transversely of the pressure thereon, so that its movement may be substantially uninfluenced by excess pressure on either side. For example, the valve 21 may suitably be of semi-cylindrical form, having ends by which it is pivotally mounted in the chamber 13, so that the edges of its wall and ends are normally immersed in the sealing liquid in channel 20 so as to prevent communication between pipes 6. and 8. The channel 20 is deeper on one side to permit opening of the valve 21 and is shallower on the other side to provide an abutment therefor. N earoneedge of the cylindrical part of the valve 21 is attached a cord, or chain 22. The cord 22 passes under a roller 23 mounted on a spindle.

supported within the chamber 13 and is connected to the underside of inverted cup 16 so that the valve 21 closes thelmouth 19 of the pipe 8 when the inverted cup 16 is in its lowest position. The valve 21 is provided with a weight 2.4 or other suitable means for causing it to tend to remain closed.

The tanks 5 are provided with the usual mea s for supplying and Withdrawing oil and ii'acuum relief vents to admit air, hydrocarbon or other gases when an excessive vacuum occurs therein (not shown).

The operation is as follows: Assuming the parts of the valve 7 to be in the positions shown in Fig. 2, and the pump 10 operating to maintain a slight vacuum in manifold 9.

If the pressure in one of the tanks increases, due to,feeding oil into it or other cause, so that the pressure of the vapor spac-e acting upwardly' on the underside of inverted cup 16 exceeds the atmospheric pressure acting downwardly on the upper side of said cup by an amount sufficient to raise said cup, valve 21 and weight 24, the cup 16 will ascend and cause the valve 21 to open, whereupon the pump 10 will withdraw vapors from the tank 5 until the excess pressure therein over atmospheric falls so that the inverted cup 16 is no longer maintained in its elevated position but falls, releasing the tension on the cord 22 so that the weight 24 causes the return of the valve 21 to its closed position.

As will be readily understood, the excess pressure of the tank over atmospheric, at which the valve 21 opens, depends upon the pressure difference at which the valve 21 opens can be accurately predetermined. The opening of valve 21' is' uninfluenced b the degree of'pressure on either side thereof. and

iscontrolled exclusively by the difi'erence between atmospheric and storage tank pres- While the invention has been described 111' connection with a specific form and applica- 'tion thereof, it must he understood that the invention is not int-ended to be limited there- -b1y;' except by the terms of the appended c a'i ms. V v WI claim: p

1. A valve structure comprising a chainhe'ria conduit leading into said chamber, an

out et' from said chan'riher, vertical" walls around said outlet forming a channel for sealing liquid, an inverted cup over said outlet having-a skirt depending into said channel, a second outlet from saidndlamher, a

liquid-$ealed sen icylindrical valve axially mounted to controls'aid second outlet, and means connecting said inverted cup to said "valve to efi'ect operation thereof from the movement of the inverted cup.

"2; A valve structure comprising a chain- Iher, a conduit leading into said chamber, an outletfrom said chamber, vertical Walls around said outlet forming a channel for sealing liquid, an inverted'cup over said out let having, a skirt depending into said channel, conduit means extending partly into said chamber so as to constitute"therearound a channel for sealing liquid, :1 pivoted valve 'ovc'r said conduit with sides extending into said channehmea'is connecting said inverted cup to the pivoted valve 50 as to efi'ect rotation'and opening. of same when the inverted. cup is moved outwardly by excess pressure in the chamber, Y

A valve structure comprising a chamher, a. conduit leading 'thereinto, an outlet extending upwardlyjfroin the top'of said therearound, a pivoted valve member having sides which extend into said channel, and

flexible means connecting said inverted'c'up to said valve member so that upward movement of the inverted cup causes rotation and opening of said valve member.

4. In combination, a pressure actuate-(l nuunhcr subjected to atn'ios'ph'eric"Pressure and a variable vapor pressure, it liquid sealed valve controlling a vapor lineandj adapted to he operatedfronr the movementof said pressure actuated member, said valve substantially scii'iicylindrical in shape H 1 pivoted axiallyso as to be uninfluenced by the pressures on either side thereof,

in combination, a pressure actuated member silhjecl'ed to atmospheric pressure and :1 variable vapor pressure, a weighted scinicylindrical pivoted valve controlling a vapor line, means for maintaining sealing liquid for said valve. means operably connecting'sziid member and valve, the opening'o'f said valve lacing uninfiuen'ced by the pressure thereon on either side thereof and being" controlled hr the movement of said pi'essui'e'aciuated member.

6. In combination, a chand er, an inverted cup having a skirt dcpendinginto sealing liquid and exposed to atmospheric pressureon its upper side and the pressure in said chamber on its underside, an outlets-from said clniu'iher, a pivoted cylindrical valve provided with a weight tendingtd close said outlet and flexible means connecting sa-idinvol-ted cup to said valve, whereby said valve is caused to open when the pressure in the chamber exceeds atmospheric pressure by a predetermined amount. v

In testimony whereof 'I have hereunto set my hand this with day of March, 1927.

HAROLD V. ATWELL. 

